LT Kristen Bradley is the Assistant Chief of the Inspections Division in Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With direct oversight of a domestic fleet of over 200 vessels, she oversees vessel inspections in the top perishable goods port in the U.S.

On the opportunity-rich Government major

“The Government major offers a wide array of opportunities to learn the intricacies and inner workings of government. Along with rigorous academic study, there are incredible domestic and international summer internship programs, government-sponsored advanced research, along with regular trips to attend high-level lectures and symposiums.”

On an impressive faculty

“I felt privileged to learn from such accomplished and compassionate individuals. In addition to their ability to engage cadets, the Government faculty is also highly distinguished. I was constantly in awe of the individual research they conducted and publications they produced, in addition to their unwavering commitment to educating and mentoring cadets.”

On valuable travel opportunities

“During my four years at the Coast Guard Academy I travelled to Benin, Sweden, Greece, Canada, and multiple U.S. cities, including Washington D.C. and Boston. I am so grateful that the Government major opened my eyes to cultures I would not have known otherwise. My travels as a cadet were some of the most valuable experiences throughout my four years.”

On being prepared for success

“As a marine inspector, my job requires me to interpret regulations on a daily basis. The Government major taught me to read thoroughly, think critically and communicate clearly. While my job certainly requires technical skills, which I have gained through additional training, the precision of language that I developed during my time at the Academy has been vital to my success.”